Page 134 - Bulletin 19 2015

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linked to the Moltenos and their sons-in-law and other related families we look first at
another building today called Kimberley House, No 7 top left of Kimberley Road.

Quinte Favilla – later Kilfenora, now Kimberley House

Christina Carolina Horne (a spinster as noted in the deeds record) bought the erf (88661)
from Dr Charles Murray in 1892. She was born in Wynberg, the daughter of Harry

Remington Horne and was schooled by private tutor. Typical of the time she lived in there is
little information in the 1913 Women of South Africa that is not related to either her father or

her husband. Her recreation was gardening and she was said to be ‘greatly interested in

charitable and philanthropical work’. (Fig. 3.23.)

She married Charles Abercrombie Smith late in life (he was about 63) and for the romantics a

story is included:

There is a charming reference to the couple, Christina and Charles in The Garrett Papers by
Gerald Shaw. In one of the letters, on page 92, the extract reads as follows.

“You know the lady old Abercrombie left a posy with when we drove out with him and his

sister? That’s the beloved of 20 years that he’s going to wed. She sailed for England with a
written proposal, gossip says, and was to cable a word from Madeira and she cabled

‘Heather’ which for dear old Crombie was ‘Heaven’. Isn’t it nice?”

All went well and on 29 June 1897 at St. Luke’s Church, Redcliff Square, London the couple
were married by the Rev. Canon Brook (sic) (probably of Holy Trinity Kalk Bay.)

It is likely that the house the couple built was a weekend and holiday home. Sir Charles was a

distinguished mathematician and a cabinet minister in the Molteno government. (Fig. 3.24.)
In a controversial move, Molteno moved him from the cabinet to the post of Auditor General

in 1875 where he distinguished himself in a brilliant career. Sir Charles was knighted in 1903
and died aged about 85 in 1919.